title: Infective endocarditis caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci. The Infectious Diseases Society of America's Emerging Infections Network.
abstract: Infective endocarditis caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci is infrequently seen. Members of the Infectious Diseases Society of America's Emerging Infections Network (EIN) were polled for cases of beta-hemolytic streptococcal endocarditis that were seen between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1996. Thirty-one cases were submitted by 22 members. The patients' ages ranged from 4 months to 79 years, and 18 (58.1%) were males. Prosthetic valve infection occurred in six cases and intravenous drug abuse was noted in only one case. Diabetes mellitus was noted in 10 patients (32.3%). Group B beta-hemolytic streptococci accounted for over two-thirds of isolates (21 [67.7%] of 31). Twenty-five patients (80.7%) developed complications of infective endocarditis, and 15 (48.4%) underwent surgical intervention with valvular revision or excision. Sixty-one percent (19 of 31) received aqueous crystalline penicillin G either as monotherapy or in combination with gentamicin sulfate. In contrast to previously published data, the mortality rate (12.9%) among patients in this survey was remarkably low. There was no infection relapse documented in 16 of the remaining 27 patients for whom posttreatment follow-up information was available.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville 37920-6999, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Baddour
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification